June 1944 (1)

Scene of devastation at Naga village near Kohima taken after fierce resistance from the Japanese, by the 7th Indian Division.IND 3709Part ofWAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTIONNo 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit

1-3 June – on the first of the month, the 7th Indian division overran the Japanese positions in Naga Village, Burma. The USS Herring, a Gato-class submarine was shelled and sunk off Matsuma, Kuril Islands, by Japanese shore-based artillery with the loss of all 60-man crew. The 5th Brigade accomplished outflanking the enemy around Aradura.

Burma

5 June – the first mission by B-29 Superfortress bombers occur as 77 of them hit the Japanese railway facilities in [what today is known as] Bangkok, Thailand.

6-8 June – 2 US light carriers were damaged after a Japanese air attacks in the waters off Biak Island. Despite the lack of reinforcements for the enemy, the island would take 8 more weeks to be subdued.

Finding the air now free of enemy planes, American B-25’s dived to the attack, reporting the convoy as 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers. Initially, it was claimed that 1 destroyer was sunk, 2 were left sinking, and the fourth was damaged. A few days later, destruction was reassessed as 4 destroyers sunk and 2 light cruisers chased to the northwest. These claims were exaggerated.

IJN Harumsame

One destroyer, the IJN Harusame, was holed by a near miss and sank rapidly, the bulk of its crew being saved. Another destroyer was damaged by a bomb and took some water; two others were slightly damaged by strafing. Neither speed nor navigation was impeded for any of the three. The two light cruisers reported by the Allied planes were, of course, the other two destroyers. These two might have taken some evasive action by heading northwest for a short time, but as soon as the Harusame crew had been rescued and the Allied planes had disappeared, the convoy reformed and continued on toward Biak.

USS Tang

On the 8th alone, the submarine, USS Tang sank IJN ships, Tainan Maru, Tamahoko Maru, Kennichi Maru, and the Nasuasan Maru. This was a good day, but such sinkings were becoming quite common. The American subs were taking a grievous toll on the enemy’s merchant and military shipping. [ U. S. submarines sank 468 Japanese ships during the first 11 months of 1944, according to Navy Department communiqués. This total includes four light cruisers and 17 destroyers. Forty‑three tankers, 377 cargo ships and transports were sent to the bottom.]

Japanese bunker at the base of Kangu Hill.

9-11 June – the Japanese bases at Fangelawa Bay, New Ireland, was bombarded by Pacific Fleet destroyers. Carrier aircraft from TF-58 struck the enemy air-power on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Pagan and Guam in the Marianas. Installations, defense positions and parked planes were bombed and strafed. Approximately 150 [up to 200 in other resources] Japanese aircraft were destroyed, with an Allied loss of 11. On Bougainville, P-39’s of the 13th Air Force flew 44 sorties against occupied areas at Komai, Kakaura, and Quaga, AA guns at Kangu Hill and plantations at Arigua and Tsirogei. The 868th Bombardment Squadron B-24’s went on a “snooper” bombing mission and hit hit Truk.

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About GP Cox

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty."
GPCox is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

You and me both, Derrick – so many islands scattered everywhere!! I wish I had room to hand a large scale map up here to keep my head straight!! If it wasn’t for my other-half, I’d stretch one right over the desk.

No, sadly they aren’t. They both have passed, my uncle was actually on leave from the Navy and was killed in a car accident, so he was quite young. My grandmother never got over that accident, such a tragedy and shows how unpredictable life is.

Great post, Everett! I have to agree that we didn’t learn half of this in school and imagine it is worse now. Loved reading the comments. Humor was good especially the graduating from basic training and knowing everything 🙂

GP Cox,
Now, after immersing myself into these letters, and as an retired teacher, I have begun to wonder if teaching WWII would be the history lessons of choice. They would teach honor humility, pride, sacrifice, suffering, faith, order, fear, struggle, hostility, conquest discipline, the value of life, and so many more concepts. The Geography lesson would be gigantic. When our family visited Normandy we all cried and hugged and bent down in prayers.I can think of no other event to give such unequalled lessons for our future generations to immolate.
Sincerely and with appreciation,
Sheila

I’ve said this to so many readers – the more I learn about this generation, the more absolutely in awe I am!! Growing up in the Great Depression, trying to survive and slamming smack into a world-wide war that still affects us today – we will never see people like this again I’m afraid. I wish I had been taught more about it when I was still in school.
I wish more teachers felt as you do today.

The mentoring is not there. Kids are growing up in an ivory tower vacuum. They have no idea. And I also really believe that stopping the Draft was a very serious mistake in the US. It helped a great many kids become useful, proud, self sufficient while providing a valuable and viable career should they choose so.
It’s interesting that the Brit Royals still make all their boys go into the forces for a while. Prince William was in for 7 years – helicopter pilot. Why do they insist on this tenure? Because it changes these boys into men – worthy of leading. When they come out they are changed for the better.

Exactly, I completely agree – BUT – at the moment, we’re so busy tripping over ourselves trying to be so very careful of everyone’s rights, being politically correct, etc, etc – we can’t get anything done!!

I don’t know they are teaching there today. I know my generation was taught very little of this and I too believe it would be valuable. There are still people alive who could go to the schools and give first hand accounts of what happened there. They are a valuable and important resource that is not being taken advantage of.

It is important to remind folks that June 1944 was not only an important date in the European Theater of Operations but also in the Pacific. As I tell friends all the time, it was not called a WORLD War for nothing. Thanks for a great article.